I think that both after school homework club and academic recess detention can be very productive but they need very specific guidelines. I have not seen that primary homework club has been very helpful but I may be wrong. I am not sure that academic recess detention works for some students as they are always there and do not get much work done.
Tricky. What if "buddy" teachers do each other's academic recess detention? For example, Mackenzie could send her kiddo to Christine and vice versa. The "buddy" teacher would have a rapport with the student and they would not be on lunch break. I think after school homework help might be better if it were reserved for students who were referred by teacher/team as part of intervention strategy. A separate after school care club could then be made available for parents to choose that would include hw help and activities.
I think that both of the "clubs" can be successful. It would be geat if we could offer an afterschool study hall that was truly for those doing homework. Those that need to just get their work done and then want to play should have another sign-up. Maybe it is by invitation only for the true study hall. I would be okay with that. Recess detention is different. Yes, you have frequent flyers, but maybe with 5/6 and possibly 4th doing Friday enrichment, getting work turned in on time is going to help deter those who just don't do it. I would like to see int. teachers truly stick to the "you don't have it done-you don't participate." It was very effective for 3-4 of my kids. Sometimes kiddos just need a bit more time to get something done in the AM, this was the thought process when I taught at another school, and recess was the answer. All of the int. teachers took a week (extra duty contract) and we hosted in our room. Each class came with a slip with names of thos in attendance and also the reason they were there (3 choices). I still have the form. We had duty every 7-8 weeks. This could work for us especially with the lunchroom schedule. Maybe if we helped cover this, Greg (sorry Greg-I didn't ask beforehand)could "mentor" a small group of kids that need some behavior intervention during recess time. I am all for kids getting outside, but sometimes they need to get their work done and for those that don't work during the "work day" or at home this may be a time for them to work. At some point in time you have to work. Have I made any sense?
Academic Recess Club: (Much better word than 'detention' I think) It has been very successful for me at 2nd grade to help certain kids get work done. They know if they need more time because they've been goofing off, or just haven't been able to complete their work, or forgot to do homework, they will do it at recess. They will often only 'forget' a couple of times. For those who are in frequent need, then, that's what they need. They go out when they are done. This is not punitive and they know it.
Academic After-School Club. I have needed this for primary for a couple of kids. The problem has been, at times, organization. There needs to be clear, consistent guidelines, and it CAN be very useful at this level. For example: Whoever is running the clubs: (Both) should provide pencils, clear rules, no playing, books, math games, open ended math problem sheets, and other material for those who either come 'without work' or who finish early. I heard quite often, that the kids came with nothing to do. I think the club should provide something open ended and academic to do, in that case. It would be very easy to provide. For me, for one of my students, it was an absolute must that he go, and he did have work because nothing was ever done at home. I am sure that at intermediate levels, it is the same. And those are my thoughts :-) S
"There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race." --John F. Kennedy
I think that both after school homework club and academic recess detention can be very productive but they need very specific guidelines. I have not seen that primary homework club has been very helpful but I may be wrong. I am not sure that academic recess detention works for some students as they are always there and do not get much work done.
ReplyDeleteTricky. What if "buddy" teachers do each other's academic recess detention? For example, Mackenzie could send her kiddo to Christine and vice versa. The "buddy" teacher would have a rapport with the student and they would not be on lunch break. I think after school homework help might be better if it were reserved for students who were referred by teacher/team as part of intervention strategy. A separate after school care club could then be made available for parents to choose that would include hw help and activities.
ReplyDeleteI think that both of the "clubs" can be successful. It would be geat if we could offer an afterschool study hall that was truly for those doing homework. Those that need to just get their work done and then want to play should have another sign-up. Maybe it is by invitation only for the true study hall. I would be okay with that. Recess detention is different. Yes, you have frequent flyers, but maybe with 5/6 and possibly 4th doing Friday enrichment, getting work turned in on time is going to help deter those who just don't do it. I would like to see int. teachers truly stick to the "you don't have it done-you don't participate." It was very effective for 3-4 of my kids. Sometimes kiddos just need a bit more time to get something done in the AM, this was the thought process when I taught at another school, and recess was the answer. All of the int. teachers took a week (extra duty contract) and we hosted in our room. Each class came with a slip with names of thos in attendance and also the reason they were there (3 choices). I still have the form. We had duty every 7-8 weeks. This could work for us especially with the lunchroom schedule. Maybe if we helped cover this, Greg (sorry Greg-I didn't ask beforehand)could "mentor" a small group of kids that need some behavior intervention during recess time. I am all for kids getting outside, but sometimes they need to get their work done and for those that don't work during the "work day" or at home this may be a time for them to work. At some point in time you have to work. Have I made any sense?
ReplyDeleteAcademic Recess Club: (Much better word than 'detention' I think) It has been very successful for me at 2nd grade to help certain kids get work done. They know if they need more time because they've been goofing off, or just haven't been able to complete their work, or forgot to do homework, they will do it at recess. They will often only 'forget' a couple of times. For those who are in frequent need, then, that's what they need. They go out when they are done. This is not punitive and they know it.
ReplyDeleteAcademic After-School Club. I have needed this for primary for a couple of kids. The problem has been, at times, organization. There needs to be clear, consistent guidelines, and it CAN be very useful at this level. For example: Whoever is running the clubs: (Both) should provide pencils, clear rules, no playing, books, math games, open ended math problem sheets, and other material for those who either come 'without work' or who finish early. I heard quite often, that the kids came with nothing to do. I think the club should provide something open ended and academic to do, in that case. It would be very easy to provide. For me, for one of my students, it was an absolute must that he go, and he did have work because nothing was ever done at home.
I am sure that at intermediate levels, it is the same.
And those are my thoughts :-) S